Memorial Day 2012 events scheduled across Western Massachusetts

Air Force photoBonnie Harper, 22, of Amherst, a senior airman in the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes National Guard Air Base in Westfield, will be grand marshal and keynote speaker at South Hadley's newly expanded Memorial Day ceremonies on May 28.

Updates with Holyoke's Monday Memorial Day events.

On Memorial Day, people want to know that the past is not forgotten and the future of their country is in good hands.

Harper is a senior airman in the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes National Guard Air Base in Westfield.

She will be grand marshal and keynote speaker at South Hadley’s newly expanded Memorial Day ceremonies on May 28.

“We are very proud of her,” said Timothy Anderson, director of the Minuteman Marching Band at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where Harper was a drum major, leading and conducting students in the band. “She is absolutely terrific.”

Harper, who graduated from UMass earlier this month, is eloquent on the meaning of Memorial Day.

“As citizens of the United States, we are so blessed to have the freedoms that we do,” she said on the phone from Eagle, Idaho, where she was visiting her family, “and those freedoms wouldn’t exist without the many men and women who have given their lives for our country.”

Harper came to UMass to study flute performance and music education. After two years, she joined the Air National Guard in Westfield to help fund her studies, and discovered she loved it.

Before South Hadley asked her to reflect on Memorial Day, the music department at South Hadley High School had sought her out to help train their drum major Katie Godfrey.

The town’s Memorial Day event on May 28 will begin with a series of ceremonies in different locations in South Hadley between 7 and 11 a.m., in this order: Canal and Everson Parks, Notre Dame and Evergreen Cemeteries, the Common and St. Rose and Village Cemeteries.

The parade, with Harper as grand marshal, will set off at 11 a.m. from South Hadley High School. At noon, the ceremony at Town Hall will feature speakers and music, followed by a catered reception at St. Patrick’s Church, hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3104.

In the afternoon, there will be music, games and a raffle at Buttery Brook Park, with a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. to honor those whose sacrifice makes it all possible.

Belchertown – At 11 a.m., Veterans’ Council of Belchertown, in conjunction with friends of the Quabbin and state Department of Conservation and Recreation, will hold traditional memorial services at Quabbin Park Cemetery.

9 a.m., coffee and donuts at War Memorial, 310 Appleton St.; 10:30 a.m. march to lay wreaths at monuments to veterans down Appleton, High, Lyman and Maple streets; march ends with ceremony at Veterans’ Park, Maple Street. Public encouraged to attend. If it rains, event will be held inside War Memorial.

Amherst – The parade leaves Town Common at 9:30 a.m. for War Memorial Pool.

Belchertown – A salute to veterans is held at South Cemetery at 8:30 a.m. The parade leaves Town Hall at 10 a.m. for Town Common ceremony. The speaker is Chief Master Sgt. Kathleen M. Wood, U.S. Air Force, retired.

West Springfield – A ceremony with West Springfield and Agawam officials is at 7:30 a.m. at Vietnam Veterans Bridge off Front Street. The parade steps off at 9 a.m. from St. Thomas School, proceeds to King’s Highway, Elm Street, Park Street to Town Common for speeches and ceremony at 9:45 a.m.

Agawam – A parade starts 10:30 a.m. from Agawam Middle School, and marches down Main Street to Veterans Green. A ceremony follows.

Another ceremony will be at 1 p.m. Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St.

Chicopee – At 10 a.m. a parade sets off at 10 a.m. from Dana Park, goes down Springfield Street to Fairview and Bonneville Avenues, ends at Veterans’ Memorial Plaza for ceremony at 11:15 a.m.

Palmer – A parade leaves Thorndike Street at 10:30 a.m., proceeds down Main Street and Central Street, ends at the War Memorial at Converse Middle School for ceremony. A reception for marchers will be at American Legion Post 130.

Granby – Marchers leave Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish for 9 a.m. ceremony at Veterans Memorial Boulder, then proceed to West Cemetery and Batchelor St.

Springfield – A Bishop’s Mass will be at 9 a.m., St. Michael’s Cathedral, followed by a ceremony at Veterans’ Monument at St. Michael’s Cemetery.

Florence, Northampton – A parade departs at 10 a.m. from Trinity Row on South Main Street, and ends at Park Street Cemetery with speakers, cannon and taps. Memorial Day Road Race 5K run starts at 9:45 a.m.

Leeds, Northampton – An 11 a.m. service with Eventide Singers will be held at Veterans Administration Medical Center Chapel. The Medical Center will also be turnaround point for 5K Run that started in Florence.

Monson – American Legion holds its annual parade at 10 a.m. Marchers gather at Wing Medical Center parking lot on Route 32 at 9 a.m., and proceed down Main Street.

East Longmeadow – From 11 a.m. to noon, a small procession walks from East Longmeadow High School parking lot to flagpole for laying of wreath, followed by Sen. Gale Canderas, Rep. Brian Ashe and Rep. Angelo Puppolo speaking in high school auditorium.

Westfield – Westfield Veterans Council’s parade leaves at 10 a.m. from Westfield State University, and proceeds down Western Avenue to Parker Memorial Park on West Silver Street for an 11 a.m. ceremony.

Air Force photoBonnie Harper, 22, of Amherst, a senior airman in the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes National Guard Air Base in Westfield, will be grand marshal and keynote speaker at South Hadley's newly expanded Memorial Day ceremonies on May 28.